When it comes to getting in shape, losing weight, having more energy, and leading a healthier lifestyle there is no shortage of tips and tricks available on the good ole inner webs. Some of it is good, some bad…most really, really bad. I think the best advice I could ever give anyone on how to create new healthy habits is in this article. It has nothing to do with diet, exercise, keto, intermittent fasting, or anything else. But it has everything to do with setting up the conditions for your success before you ever get started. Here’s my top 3 tips for creating lasting health and wellness change.
Tip #1: Goals vs. Outcomes
I reckon the number one thing I always start new clients out with is understanding what your Desired State Outcome is. Or…your DSO. There’s a big difference between goals and outcomes, that is confusing to many people. Your DSO represents the person you want to be when you have completed your healthy lifestyle transformation. Goals are a tool that you use to get yourself there.
Most people who want to make changes in their lives only focus on accomplishing the goals they have set. They spend very little time thinking about what happens next, and what will that be like when they achieve their goal. Will it be in line with the person they want to be? If it is or isn’t, what else needs to be in place or accomplished to get them there? These are the most important parts of goal setting that are often glanced over.
Tip #2: Determine Your Motivation
Next in line, but equally important is what I like to refer to as connecting with your Big MOFA. Your Big MOFA is the motivating factors make your desired outcome some important to you. What is it that you want, and what makes it imperative that you do not fail? You need to be crystal clear on this. Without such clarity, it is too easy to “fudge”, quit, or self sabotage your efforts.
When most people set out to make changes in their lives, they pick a goal. That goal is typically not very specific, and rarely goes past “I want to lose 20 lbs.”
Losing 20 lbs is a great goal. But why is it important for you to achieve that? What will having lost 20 lbs do for you? What will it feel like? And…what’s so important about feeling that way?
We drill down deeper and deeper until you uncover what it is you really want. You may find out that you want to lose 20 lbs because of something much deeper and more meaningful that you had previously realized.
Tip #3: Anchors Away!
Once you understand your desired outcome, understood why it’s so important to reach, and chosen some goals to get you there, it’s time to seal the deal. If you want to rock your goals, and crush it all the way to your desired outcome, you can’t skip this goal! Have you ever heard the term, “Life Gets In The Way?” Well it does. And, this next step keeps life from interfering with your plans for success.
I call it Anchoring Your Goals. It is a simple process, but the dividends you’ll get from taking the time to do this are tenfold. Anchoring occurs when you pick ordinary objects in environment to constantly remind you of how important your transformation is. It can be anything you want, but it must be in your physical environment.
You can use your favorite gym playlist, pictures, physical objects, even sticky notes. They all help so much. I had a client one time tell me that he had placed his wedding band on his desk next to his mouse pad. When I asked him why, he told me that he had not been able to wear it in years, and that he was going to lose the weight to get it back on. What An Anchor! Weeks later he sent me a picture of it on his hand…proving yet again that I have the best job in the world.
The Take Away
It doesn’t matter how major or how small the shifts in your life you want to make are. If you want to be successful, and you want longevity out of your accomplishments, you must set up the conditions for success before you begin.
I hope you got something out of these quick tips. Please comment below and let me know what you think.
If you don’t know where to start, I’m here for you. Each and every week I set aside times for what I call Success Strategy Sessions. These short (and FREE!) coaching calls are designed to get you moving toward your goals and reaching them at lightening speed. During the call we’ll talk about where you currently are, where you’d like to be, and come up with some quick actionable steps you can take right away.
These calls are FREE, but I only have a limited amount of time to do them each and every week. They are “first-come-first-serve”. If you’d like to schedule a free Success Strategy Session CLICK HERE!